NEWS

Ron Keel Band has signed a worldwide recording agreement with David Ellefson's EMP Label Group.

The new album project will feature new original music, killer covers of southern rock classics, a brand new medley of the Keel hits “The Right To Rock,” “Tears Of Fire,” “Somebody’s Waiting,” and “Because The Night,” and the recent singles “Dead Man Rockin’” and “Homesick.”

“This project is a dream come true for me,” confesses Ron Keel. “The fans and I are in total agreement – we treasure the Keel classics from the 80’s, and I’ve always wanted another shot at those vocals. I was young and green then, and the singer that cut those tracks had a lot of growing to do as a vocalist. Now after three decades of practice, I am delivering those songs with new strength and authority that was missing on the original recordings.”

Keel has indeed been getting a lot of practice as the Ron Keel Band pursued a relentless touring schedule this summer – headline shows in front of tens of thousands include the Sturgis Rally, Hot Harley Nights, fairs, festivals, and arenas plus tour dates supporting Tesla.

RKB has a tradition of tackling iconic southern rock anthems like “Ghost Riders In The Sky” and “Homesick,” and plans to expand on that formula with this release. “I considered at one point creating an entire album to pay tribute to the giants of that genre,” Keel explains. “One song each from the legends like Outlaws, Blackfoot, Hatchet, Skynyrd, Allman Brothers…we’re going to record a bunch of those and see what we have room for this time, but we have to also include our new originals and the Keel songs to really define our identity as a band.”

2018 promises to escalate the mayhem to a fever pitch, as RKB prepares to tour in support of the new album. Ron is also confirmed to appear at the Atlanta KISS Expo January 20th and will reunite with the original Keel band again for their fifth voyage on the The 2018 Monsters Of Rock Cruise in February.

“My philosophy has always been to live each day, each show, each song as if it were my last, says Ron. “Tomorrow is not guaranteed for any of us…and this new album stands as a monument to our fans, the tough guys in this band, and my legacy as a small thread in the epic tapestry of rock & roll.”

Ron Keel Band Releases New Summer Single “Homesick”

July 12, 2017

The Ron Keel Band has released a brand new single, the blistering guitar-driven track “Homesick,” which is now available worldwide on iTunes and all other digital music distribution services.

RKB’s 21st century take on the 1981 Atlanta Rhythm Section tune continues their tradition of covering southern rock classics like “Ghost Riders in The Sky.” Keel debuted “Homesick” on the popular “Morning Crash” show on KBAD 94.5 FM radio in Sioux Falls, and the song has become a highlight in the band’s live show as they continue to headline festivals, fairs and biker events as well as support dates for Tesla and Hairball this summer.

“I heard the original version on the radio one day a few months back,” the Metal Cowboy explains, “and it practically jumped out of the speakers, grabbed me by the throat, and screamed ‘SING ME!’ It reminded me of when Keel covered ‘Because The Night’ on the ‘Final Frontier’ album – the right song at just the right time. It’s a great fit for us.”

The single release by Wild West Media will be followed up by a full production music video that features rare clips and images from Ron’s history and that of band mates DC Cothern (lead guitar), El Diablo (bass), The Rev (drums) and Dakota Scott (keyboards).

The track was cut at Cathouse Studios in Sioux Falls, and co-produced by Keel and Mike Dresch who recorded and mixed the single. One interesting side note is the appearance of a mysterious whistle on Ron’s lead vocal track about two-thirds of the way into the song. “That is a human whistle, loud and clear,” Ron insists. “It is simultaneous with a vocal thing I did, and I can’t whistle, never have. And I certainly can’t sing and whistle at the same time. It reminds me of Ronnie Van Zant or Danny Joe Brown [from Molly Hatchet], the way those guys incorporated the whistle into their vocals. I can’t take credit for this one – somebody else was in that vocal booth with me that day.”

Keel admits that while recording and releasing a full album remains a priority, it was important for the band to have a new single and video to share with fans this summer. “Everybody gets homesick,” he adds. “We hope they enjoy this song as much as we do.”